Reel



Sept 2, 1952 H. c. HowsAM 2,609,162

REEL

Filed oct. 4, 194e y 2 Simms- Smm 1 IN VEN TOR.

Sept- 2, 1952 HL c. HOWSAM 2,609,162

REEL v Filed. Oct. 4, 1946 saEETs-SHEET 2 Patented Sept. 2, 1952 `r`,UuT'lzD 's'rnriazs Param oFF-ICE',

Hilyard C. Howsam, Chicagrnlll. Application october 4, 1946, serial No. 701,346

My invention relates to reels, and more particularly tolareel uponwhich wire or cable or other strand may be wound.

There are"reels of thel prior art which employ wood for the head of the reel and, in some instances, they employ plies of Wood to make up heads of more uniform strength. The heads generally are spacedapart by a hub and the two heads are held against separation by bolts which pass through the two heads and through the hub. It has been the practice in some cases to provide washers beneath the heads of the bolts, as Well as beneath thejnuts threaded on the other ends of the bolts, which washers bear flatwise against the side ofthe grainof the woodenheads to dis- Y tribute the'pressureover a greater area. f In some cases a flat washer lis merely set against the outer surface'or set inia flat bottomed counterbore around the lbolt VAhead. SometimesV a stepped washer yis used seti partly into said counterbore, but the result is thefsame. With such construction tightening jup of the nuts upon the Washers crushes the 'wood'by pressure on the side of the grain.V Even `if plywood is employedto form the heads, thepressurelexerted on theside of the grain of the outerply of a head tends topcrush and break that ply orotherwise `damage it, thus weakening` the reel.` An undesirable consequence of such bearingfagainst theside of the grain of the Woodliusthatthe bolts can never be kept tight. If the .Wood dries-out it shrinks crosswise of the grain and thefbolts` become loose. If they are now drawn. tight-,expansion ofV the wood by subsequently acquired'moisture will cause crushing of the grain withconsequent looseness upon again becoming dry. j A further disadvantage of certain priorV constructions is that the heads of the bolts and the nuts protrude from the sides of the heads, thereby making them more inconvenient in use and storage.,V i

It is an object of my invention to provide means for applying andfdistributing the stress of the bolts upon the endgrain of the Wooden or plywood heads, which means Will'not split, or other- Wise damagethe Wooden head. In attaining this goal, I employv `a novel type of stress distributor at either end of the bolts for joining the heads, which distributors are formed with a taper so as to be drawn Yinto tapered sockets in the heads and .toLeXert the major part of their pressure against .theend grain 'of the Wood, or plies of Wood constituting the` heads, instead of exerting their pressure'. against thefat grain of the wooden heads. l

It is a further "object of my invention to render 6 Claims. (Cl. 242-124) Civ 2 more easy and secure the joining of the heads of the` reel to the hub by bolts, and to this end I provide a stress distributor in which the head of the bolt will be seated in a mating recessv sothat relative rotation between the bolt and said distributor is impossible. Byemploying longitudinal ridges, ns or grooves in the surface ofthe stationary distributor, it is possible to prevent'the said distributor from turning onceit is `seated against the end grain of the head. It is then only necessary for'the person assemblingithe reel to thread on the nut at the other end of the bolt, since the end of the bolt having the bolt head is retained against rotation. By making the bodies of both distributors lof vthe same general shape, the recessesvin theopposite heads of the reel may both be cut alike-by the same tool. j

The rotatabledistributor which I provide also serves as. a'nut for the bolt since it is internally threaded. It has` a smooth, generally conical exterior, so that` it may readily vbe threadedv on to the bolt and'into the'tapered bolt hole in the head. As the distributor rotates Within the bolt hole and exerts pressure` against the end grain ofthe head, it'jtends to turn the end grain in the direction of rotation..,*Consequentlm when the flange of the threaded distributor is drawn down tothe desired depth in the face of the head and upon the bolt, .the turned.end grain acts as a locking means to prevent rotation ofthe distributor in the opposite direction. This locking effect may be accentuated by cutting or casting one or more longitudinal notches or grooves inv thesurface of the distributor, which notches are so formed as by undercutting one side of the groove as to ratchet over the grain of the wooden head when the distributor is threaded onto the bolt, but which catchvholdv of the Wood fibers when rotated in the opposite direction.

Thedistributors. are preferably both substantially conical in shape, although the stationary one may be of any preferred tapered. non-circular shape. At their Wider ends the distributors are flared outwardlyinsuch a fashion as to form a flangelike portion which serves in some degree as limiting means to prevent penetration of the distributorsinto the head beyond a certain point, and mainly tov bind; and finish the grain of the Wood about the outer end of the recess. Since the distributor at'both ends of the bolts penetrate the heads, leaving'only their flared out or angedends'on'the surfaceof the heads, the reels maybe more closely packed against each .ogierkand will be less likelyfto interfere with each oer.\'\-..

Other objects, uses and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description, when taken with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view, taken on the lines I-I of Figure 2, of a reel embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the reel shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectionalview, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure v1;

Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of pressure distributor Figure 6 represents a view similar to that of Figure 3, except that the distributor of Figure 5 is employed instead of the distributor illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure I is a view in elevation of another modification of the pressure distributor of my invention;

Figure 8 is a plan View of the distributor of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an elevation of still another .form of pressure distributor; and l Figure 10 is a plan View of the distributor of Figure 9.

Like reference numerals have been employed in the several views to indicate the same elements.

Referring now to Figures 1 through 4, it will be seen that the reel is indicated generally by the reference numeral I and comprises a pair of circular, parallel, spaced apart flat disklike heads 3 and 5, which are preferably formed of layers of plywood, said heads being spaced apart by a tubular sheet metal hub 1 and held against separation by a plurality of bolts 9, II and I3. Each of the heads 3 and '5 has a central aperture, such as apertures I5 and I1, in which are seated, respectively, sheet metal bearing sleeves ror grommets I9 and 2| which are adapted to t over a shaft or arbor, so that the reel may be rotated thereon. The peripheriesvof the heads 3 and 5 have centrally disposed rounded grooves 23 and 25,respectively, over which are placed sheet metal covers 21 and 29, respectively, vwhich c over the peripheries and conform to their shape. As a result, the external surface of the covers21 and 29 provide grooves corresponding to the grooves formed in the peripheries of the head. These grooves are adapted to carry a belt which may be driven to rotate the reel when it is supported upon a shaft or arbor. To secure the covers 21 and 29 in place, one edge of each is spun over and pressed into the outside surface of its head thereby to grip the same, as shown at 3l and 33, respectively. At their other edges, each of the covers flts over a portion of the inner surface of each head and has an axially extending flange, such as the flange of cover 21 and the flange 31 of cover 29. The sheet metal hub 1 has a press fit over the flanges 35 .and 31 and thereby holds the heads 3 and 5 against relative lateral movement and against axial movement toward each other.

The sheet metal covers 21 and 29 are each formed initially with a cylindrical flange which is of a diameter to receive the periphery of the head 3. Then the metal of the flange in register with the groove in the Wood is shrunk into the groove in the periphery of the head. This may be done by spinning or by a radially acting die to fit the sheet metal into the groove. Then Ithe outer edge of the flange is curled over the 4 edge as by spinning of the metal to make the raw edge bite into the surface of the Wood. This provides a neat, strong and highly advantageous construction.

In order to hold the heads 3 and 5 together on the hub 1, I employ a plurality of symmetrically disposed bolts. Since each of the bolts and its associated pressure distributors are the same, a description of one will suffice for all of them. Reference Will, therefore, be had to the bolt 9 which has a square head 39 and a threaded end 49. The head 39 is preferably hot forged, and need not be further finished. A pressure distributor indicated generally by the reference numeral 4I, has a central aperture 42 through which the shank of the bolt 9 passes, and has a socket 43 of substantially the same configuration as the head 39 of the bolt 9, the socket being so formed in order to prevent relative rotation between the head'of the bolt and the distributor. The distributor 4I is of substantially the shape of a truncated cone except that the sloping surface of the distributor flares outwardly at its base, that is, has a different rate of slope, so that the distributor is somewhat flanged at its outer or wider end. Ridges or ns 45, extending longitudinally of the axis of the distributor 4I, are adapted to dig into the end grain of the head 5, so that the distributor 4I' will not rotate with respect thereto.

At the threaded end 49 of bolt 9, as well as at the ends of the bolts AII and I3, there is a distributor such as that indicated generally by the reference numeral 41. Distributor 41 is similar to distributor 4I in all respect, except for the absence of ridges, such as the ridges 45 of distributor 4I, and except for the internal thread at the central aperture 49. Although the socket 5I of distributor 41 is the same shape as the socket 43 in distributor 4 I, it is employed not for receiving a bolt head, but for receiving the head of a wrench or driving tool, and may, therefore, assume any shape which will prevent relative rotation between it and the driving head of such a wrench orA tool. It is important to note that because of their shape and application the distributors 4I and', 41 both exert their pressure mainly against the end grain of the heads 3 and 5 rather thanl against the flat grain of said heads. Consequently, the heads, or plies of wood thereof, are much more resistant to crushing or cracking. At their Wider ends or bases, the distributors 4I and 41 have flared out ends which seat upon the outer surfaces of the heads 5 and 3, and consequently against the flat grain, but these flared out portions or flanges of the distributors 4I and 41 serve as limiting means to prevent further penetration of the distributors into the tapered sockets about the bolt holes 55 and 53, respectively, in the heads 5 and 3, and do not exert excessive pressure on the flat grain of the heads or their outer plies of Wood. These flared out ends act as binding flanges for the fibers surrounding the edge of the conical recess, thereby making a neat closure for the outer end of the recess and showing no gap between the distributor and the wood.

The sockets in the heads 3, 5 are all alike being cut by a revolving tool or cutter. The preferred taper of the main part of the socket and of the distributor is approximately 20 whereby the major part of the pressure on this surface is sustained by the radial thrust against the side walls of the socket. The angle of the body increases so as to shade by a rounded fillet into the shape in order to apply the pressure mainly to the end grain along the b'oreof the opening while atthe same time bindingthe edges of the conical recess.r I

The angle of thev main body part ofthe distributor is preferably well below 45^for `softer Woods and a pronounced ilange is desirable.- For harder woods the flange may be of less radial extent than the proportions shown in Figure -1, and the angle of the body may be substantially greater than the 20 shown.- The second distributor is preferablyY rotatableonthe threads because'this provides a unique and economical connection and mode of operation in that both distributors fit into similarly formed sockets and require a minimum of metal, but I regard the principle of distribution of pressure and binding of the edges of the grain by a tapered pressure distributor to bev new in this type of construction. The two distributors need not be of identical slze. Y Y

The outer edge of the preferred form of distributor lies substantially fiat againstthe side of the grain of the head and may even be slightly undercut if desired to give a finished effect. It is sufcient to bring the ange out near enough fiat to gain a tight fit which leaves none of the wood flbersfcut in forming thefrecess, exposed. Thus the outer edge of the recess in which 'the distributor is seated is sealed 01T from the weather. Since wood expands and contracts very littlecin the direction of the grain by changes in moisture the distributors remain tightindenitely.

Figure 3 illustrates how the distributor 4| is prevented from rotating relative to the head 5 by reason of its ridges 45 sinking into the grain of the wood of head 5. This prevents the bolt 9 from turning when the threaded distributor 41 is screwed on to the threaded end 40 of boltV 9, because the bolt head 39 is restrained against relative rotation within the socket 43 in the distributor 4 I. Since the person assembling the reel does not have to hold` the heads 33 of the bolts against rotation, the `assembly operation is much easier and may be performed muchfmore quickly, and may be done by one man from one end of the device. y v l It may be noted more readily from Figure 4 that rotation of thedistributor 41 to thread it upon the bolt 8 (the direction rotation being indicated by the arrow A) tends to direct the end grain of the wooden head 3 in the direction of rotation of the distributor, as may be seen at 51, for example. The end grain ofthe wood thereafter resists rotation of the distributor 41 in the direction opposite to that of the arrow-A, and thereby tends to prevent loosening of distributor 41 with respect to the bolt 3. By forming the distributor 41 as illustrated it will be seen that I have combined the functions kof a nut and a pressure distributor in one article and have-'simultaneously provided a locking` means for-the distributor by cooperation of its sloping surface with the end grain of the head in which the distributor seats. l

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of distributor, which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 5|, said distributor differing from distributor 4| only in that grooves E3 are substituted for the ridges 45 of the distributor 4|.

6 l Theedges 65 ofthevr grooves Stare undercut so thatwhen .the distributorl is drawn into' the head v5, when the internally threaded distributor 41 is drawn up on the bolt 9, the edges 65 will bite into the side of that portion of the end grain which protrudesinto the grooves 63, as shown at 61. Distributor 6| will, therefore, be held against rotation with respect to'the head 5, and will, in turn, hold the bolt 9 against rotation with respect to the wooden head 5. It will be appreciated that other shapes` than a cone could be employed for distributors 4| or 6|, a pyramid, for'example, being satisfactory, since the corners thereof will sink intothe end grain of the wooden head to prevent rotation of the distributor with respect thereto., v p l The modified form of pressure distributor illustrated'in Figures '7 and 8 is indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 I. This distributor has its smaller end 13 provided with a plurality of slots 15 preferably formed during the casting thereof. It may be done by a subsequent cutting operation. The slots may extendlpartly or completely through the side wall. Slots 15 extend longitudinally of the distributor land serve to divide its smaller end into sections 11 which are adapted to move radially inwardly when radial pressure is exerted on them, as, for example, when the distributor is -drawn in toa bolt hole in onerof the wooden heads of the reel. Distributors for cooperation with either end of a bolt may be formed with the slots 15 and will tend to grip the bolt as they are drawn into the heads of the reel.

' In Figures 9 and 10 there isillustrated a form of internally threaded pressure distributor 8| which is similar to the distributor 41 of Figure 1, except vthat longitudinally extending notches or grooves 83 are cast or cut in its surface. It will be noted that the grooves 83 are so formed, as by providing an undercut at one side, that the edges 85 thereof will readily ratchet over the end grain of the wooden heads of the reel when the distributor is threaded on to the end of a bolt, i. e., in the direction indicated by arrow B. However, When the distributor is rotated in the opposite direction, the wooden fibres of the head will resist such movement by reason of their extending into the grooves 83. This locking action is in addition to the locking action of the end grain of the wood on the smooth surface of the distributor, as described above with respect to Vdistributor 41. y Whether the bolt holes 53 and 55 in the heads 3 and 5, respectively, .are cylindrical or somewhat conical in shape, or otherwise formed, as the internally threaded distributor 41 is threaded upon the bolt 9, the distributors 41 and 4I will be drawn toward each other and will sink into the head while pressing against the end grain of the various plies of the wooden heads 3 and 5. Distributor 4| will be drawn in axially with respect to the bolt and will not rotate by reason of the ridges 45 or equivalent irregularities in its surface, while the distributor 4|will be drawn in axially while it rotates about the bolt 9 in` being threaded thereon. When distributor 41 has been threaded upon thebolt 3 to the point where the outwardly flared ends of the distributors 4| and'41 engage against the external surface of the heads 5 and 3, the heads will be firmly held against separation by the distributor 4I and 41 which will then nt snugly -into the heads andwill not rattle or become loose, the'distributor 4| Ybei-ng held against rotation by its ridgesY 45, andY the distributor 41 being locked in position by the turned end grain of the head, which turned end grain acts ratchetwise upon the sloping surface of the distributor as shown at 51 in Figure 4.

It is particularly to be noted that in distributing the pressure of the bolt to the plywood heads, the structure of my invention brings pressure directly upon each ply by engaging the end grain along the full length of the hole through the head. The crossing of the grain by the wood in successive plies overcomes the weakness of the tendency to split the wood which would be much more pronounced if the head had the grain running all in one direction, as is the case in a solid board. Obviously, -my invention may be used with a one-piece wooden head but the tendency to split is greater.

In reference to the statements herein that the load or stress of the bolt is sustained chiefly in the end grain of the Wood, it is to be noted that where a tapered recess is formed in a body of wood across the grain of the wood, the pressure of the distributor is chiefly sustained by the end grain because pressure of said distributor against the side of the grain produces yielding thereof at unit stresses far below those which the end grain will sustain. The load is thereby automatically taken by the end grain in each of the plies engaged by the distributor. I speak of applying pressure of the bolt to each of the plies of the head as the most advantageous construction. Obviously, failure to engage all of the plies does not' escape my invention, as this I believe is the first structure to distribute the pressure along the length of the hole as distinguished from applying pressure `flatwise to the side grain about the hole as the prior art teaches. The engaging surfaces of the ldistributor and of the aperture are preferably substantially surfaces of revolution. These distributors are preferably formed as zinc or aluminum base die castings.

Althoughv I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not intend to be limited to the details thereof, excepting so far as they are recited in the following claims, since certain changes may be made within the skill of the art without departing from the scope of the invention, as dened by the following claims.

I claim: Y

l. A pressure distributor for applying the pressure of a bolt to a wooden member such as a reel head formedvof successive layers of wood, with the grain thereof crossing, which distributor is adapted to seat in a tapered aperture in the reel head and comprises a generally cone-shaped body, the angle of the main body part with respect to its longitudinal axis being of the order of 20n whereby it is adapted, undervthe tension or the bolt, to wedge itself into said aperture and to impart the pressure of the bolt independently to successive layers of the'head and mainly to the end grain of said layers, the larger end of said distributor being outwardly ared and being adapted to seat against the outer surface of the head about the tapered aperture to seal it oi. Y l Y 2. The pressure distributor ofclaim 1 wherein the tapered surface of the pressure dis--l tributor is provided with longitudinally extending ridges for resisting turning when seated in the aperture in the reel head.

3. In combination, a woodenreel head, a bolt for applying pressure to said head substantially at ri-gh-t angles to the plane of said head, an aperture through said lhead having its axis substantially at right Vangles to the plane of said head. said aperture having wal-l means tapering inwardly in the direction in which the pressure of the bolt is applied, Vand .a tapered pressure dis- -tributor seated in said aperture, said distributor being connected with-said bolt, the taper of said distributor and of said aperture being of the order of 20 causing the pressure of the bolt to bev transmitted mainly to the end grain of the head along the wall means of the aperture, and said distributor having its larger end outwardly flared on `a radius to a diameter greater than that of the larger end of the aperture and seating against the outer surface of the head about the tapered aperture to seal it off.

4. -A pressure distributor f-or applying the pressure of a bolt wooden lreel head, which distributor is adapted to seat in a tapered aperture in the reel head with its axis cross-wise of the grain of the head, said distributor comprising a tapered body having a surface of revolution with the angle Aof the main body part of -the distributor with respect to its longitudinal axis being of the order of 20 and having an axially threaded bolt receiving aperture, the outer end of which is provided with a non-circular socket by which the distributor is adapted to be rotated in and wedged into the aperture in the reel head, under the tension of the bolt, to impart the pressure of the bolt mainly to the end grain of the head and to turn the end grain to form it int-o locking means cooperating with the surface of the pressure distributor.

5. In combination, a wooden reel head, a bolt for applying pressure to the side `of said head, an aperture through said head which the bolt is adapted to enter, said aperture having Wall means tapering inwardly in the direction in which the force of the bolt is applied, and a tapered pre-ssure distributor seated in said aperture, said distributor being connected with said bolt, and the taper of said distributor and of said aperture being of the order of 26 and causingr the pressure of the bolt to be transmitted mainly to the end gr-ain of the head along the wall means of the aperture.

6. In combination, a wooden reel head, a bolt for applying pressure to said head substantially at right angles to the plane of said head, an aperture through said head having its axis substantially .at right angles to the pl-ane of said head, said aperture having wall means formed principally of end grain and tapering inwardly in the direction in which the pressure of a bolt is applied, and a rotatable pressure distributor having a taper corresponding to that of the aperture and having an external smooth surface of revolution, said distributor being threadedly connected with said bolt and being wedged into said aperture by rotation of said distributor, said tapered Vpressure distributor applying the pressure of the bolt principally on the end grain, and said end grain being turned by rotation of the distributor and forming locking means cooperating with the surface of the pressure distributor to resist rotation of the distributor toward released position.

HILYARD C. HOW SAM.

(References on following page) 9 10 REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date D U y l, 1,432,243 Harri-s Oct. 17, 1922 lenf lilsmggnfe ences are of ma d m the 1,733,592 Hubbard oet. 29, 1929 l 1,734,184 5101er Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED 'STATES PAlENTS 5 1,977,880 Howsam oct, 23, 1934 Number Name Date 2,008,784 Comisk'ey July 23, 1935 r42,475 Harvey Apr. 26, 1364 2,163,685 Howsam June 27, 1939 437,327 Blakeslee Sept. 30, 1890 2,203,584 Thornton June 4, 1940 511,996 Bunker Jan. 2, 1894 2,307,080 Schaefer Jan. 5, 1943 1,008,427 Morrison Nov. 14, 1911 10 2,399,227 Hilton Apr. 30, 1946 1,238,176 Moore Aug. 28, 1917 2,400,856 Thompson May 21, 1946 

